frequently asked
questions

Volunteering at the Arctic Winter Games offers an incredible opportunity to experience being part of a multi-sporting event that brings together athletes, cultures, and communities from across the Circumpolar North. You'll make new friends, gain valuable experience, and help showcase the Yukon’s phenomenal hospitality!

Not at all! All volunteers will receive training before the Games. Some specialized roles may require experience (e.g., medical staff, sport officials), but most roles just need enthusiasm and commitment.

There’s something for everyone! Roles include:

• ‍Lead Volunteers (Recruitment Complete): Lead Volunteers are responsible for overseeing the overall planning, coordination, and execution of their assigned areas or functional areas. They are key leaders who work closely with staff to develop strategies, establish processes, and ensure the smooth operation of the Games.‍
• Committee Members: Committee Members support the Lead Volunteers by managing specific tasks and responsibilities within their assigned committees. They assist in detailed planning, coordination, and implementation of programs and initiatives in their functional areas. This phase emphasizes recruiting individuals with relevant expertise and enthusiasm to contribute to the success of their respective committees.‍
• Games-Time Volunteers: Games-Time Volunteers are the operational workforce of the Games, responsible for delivering services, assisting participants, and ensuring all events and activities run smoothly. They fill on-the-ground roles during the Games, such as venue operations, spectator services, and athlete support.

You’ll have a chance to choose your preferred roles and availability when signing up through the online portal. You can also go back and change your preference after your initial registration.

The Games run March 8-15, 2026, but volunteers are needed:

• Pre-Games (present until  March 7, 2026)
• Games-Time (March 8-14, 2026)
• Post-Games (March 16-18, 2026) 

Shifts are flexible, and we’ll work with you to accommodate your availability. We are also looking for pre-Games volunteers to help us plan and prepare for the event from now until March 2026.

In order to receive the Volunteer Uniform you need to commit to a minimum 12 hours. The minimum hour commitment is spread over 7 days from March 8-15, 2026. Many shifts will be in the evenings and on weekends providing flexibility to fit in your hours. 

If you cannot commit to the 12 hours, we appreciate any time you have to offer! There are many other ways to volunteer with the Games.

Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older as of January 1, 2026, to be eligible to volunteer with the 2026 Arctic Winter Games. Those between the ages of 13 and 18 years will be required to submit a completed parent/guardian consent form during their registration process.

Yes, all volunteers must have a working knowledge of English. There will also be a number of roles requiring volunteers to be fluent in both Canadian official languages (French and English). 

Absolutely! Anyone is welcome to register as a volunteer. All out of town volunteers will have to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation.

All out of town volunteers have to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation and meals. Light snacks will be provided in the Volunteer Lounges, while you are on volunteer duty.

You will have to make your own arrangements for visa, travel, food and accommodations. Light snacks will be provided in the Volunteer Lounge, while you are on volunteer duty with the Games.

The 2026 AWG Games website and social media channels have the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on getting involved with the Games. Visit www.awg2026.org and follow us on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. 

Our volunteer team can be reached by email at volunteers@awg2026.org or stop in at the AWG Volunteer Center, currenlty located at NVD Place (Ogilvie St), Suite 220.

The online volunteer registration portal is now open. All interested volunteers will be able to apply for Games-time and pre- and post-Games roles through this online portal.

Online Volunteer Registration Link

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Volunteer Team at volunteers@awg2026.org.

Before starting your application, please have an active phone number that you monitor often as well as emergency contact information.

The Volunteer Centre (NVD Place (Ogilvie St), Suite 220) has computers that you can use to apply. We are usually open Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM. The Whitehorse Public Library and libraries in the communities also have computers available for people to use.

As soon as possible. Adults 18 years of age and older who are volunteering during the Games must complete a Criminal Record Check for the screening process. This process takes some time, so don’t delay, as a delay could influence the kinds of roles you may be offered.

We can work with you to find shifts that fit your schedule. Scheduling begins in Winter 2025/2026 and you have the opportunity to accept or decline shifts based on what you know about your schedule at that point in time. Put your availability down to the best of your knowledge and you can always accept more or less shifts as it changes by returning to your profile via the online registration portal via GEMS.pro. If you have no idea of availability, leave this section blank for now - you can update your availability as your schedule becomes better known.

Yes, we encourage anyone with a disability to apply to volunteer with the Games. Once you apply, you will be contacted to ensure we match you with a position that best accommodates your accessibility needs. If you have a full time aid/support worker, they will also need to go through the volunteer registration and screening process and will be identified through a follow up conversation to your application.

Yes, once you apply you will be contacted to ensure we match you with a position that best accommodates your accessibility needs.

Yes, December 31, 2025.

Yes, please log into GEMS.Pro in order to update your profile settings. Please keep your name, address, email and phone number up-to-date on your profile through the duration of the Games.

To ensure you are receiving Games communications please ensure that your email address is complete in your volunteer profile or check your junk mail for any of the following email addresses: @gems.pro or @awg2026.org. 

Make sure to move these email addresses to your inbox to receive future notifications. If you are unsure of your status within the volunteer experience, please send our team an email at volunteers@2026awg.org.

The status of your application is where you stand in the Volunteer Experience (see “Your Volunteer Experience” page). As you move through your Volunteer Experience, your status on your profile will be updated.

We understand things come up. If your availability changes, just let us know as soon as possible so we can adjust schedules accordingly. At any time you can adjust your availability and interests in GEMS.Pro just log in and update the online portal.

For the safety and security of all athletes and volunteers, we require all Games-time positions to go through enhanced screening. There will be no fee for Yukon volunteers registered with the 2026 Arctic Winter Games. The two RCMP forms required can be downloaded from https://www.awg2026.org/volunteers. Completed applications can be dropped off to the Volunteer Center.

You will need to provide two pieces of government issued ID with your application. Accepted IDs included:

Accepted Primary Identification

• Driver’s License
• General ID

Accepted Secondary Identification

• Passport
• Health Care Card
• Birth Certificate
• Nexus Card
• PAL
• Status Card

Any Criminal Record Checks completed after March 8, 2025 will be accepted. Please drop a copy off at the Volunteer Center or email it to volunteers@awg2026.org.

If you live in British Columbia, follow the process defined by the British Columbia Criminal Records Review Program. If you live in any other Canadian jurisdictions, you will have to submit a CRC and Vulnerable Sector Check application to your local RCMP station and then email a digital copy of your CRC to volunteers@awg2026.org.

You will have to follow the process outlined by your local police. Once you have a completed CRC, an image of it can be emailed to volunteers@awg2026.org.

After going through the registration process and subject to a satisfactory police record check screening, you will receive notification that you are approved as a 2026 Arctic Games volunteer. This will also be reflected in your status within GEMS.pro profile. Keep monitoring your inbox for emails from our Volunteer Team.

The online application form is the first step in beginning your volunteer experience with the 2026 Arctic Winter Games. We have a process to review and screen applications based on skills and interests. The placement of most volunteers into specific roles will begin in the early December of 2025.

Yes! We encourage group volunteering—whether it's with family, friends, coworkers, or teammates. Just let us know when signing up, and we’ll do our best to place you together. However, as we will be managing the schedules of 2000 volunteers, we can not guarantee anything. The only exception is persons with disabilities who have a full-time support person.

Just prior to the Games (Jan-Feb. 2026), you will attend a mandatory online orientation session. Once completed, you will receive a volunteer uniform and accreditation that will be required in order to enter venues for your shifts.

We’re excited you are coming to join us in Whitehorse! Before you arrive, please contact us at volunteers@awg2026.org to schedule your orientation session at the Volunteer Centre. It is located in the Arctic Winter Games headquarter office in Unit 300, NVD Place, 4th Avenue & Ogilvie Street. 

At this session, you will receive a general orientation to the Arctic Winter Games and will be able to pick up your volunteer uniform and accreditation. Functional Areas(s) Leads will then  arrange role and venue-specific training once you arrive, per your volunteer schedule.

There are three critical pieces of training each volunteer will be required to complete: Games orientation, role-specific training, and venue-specific training. We are planning to host many training sessions online, and for those who don’t feel comfortable online there will be scheduled in-person sessions.

The online training portal is scheduled to be up and running October 2025.

We are working with City of Whitehorse Transit to ensure access to as many venues as possible. Some sites outside the limits of the City may only be accessible with a vehicle (ex.: Grey Mountain Biathlon Range or Mt. Sima).

For safety reasons, children are not permitted to join their parents on their shifts. Please arrange for child minding while you are volunteering. We are looking  into developing AWG specific platforms to help volunteers coordinate childcare and transportation.

In the context of a Games environment, a prolonged period of time for standing is five hours without a break. We ask this question as some roles may require an individual to remain stationary in a single spot. All efforts will be made to ensure every volunteer receives breaks and is rotated through various positions at the venue.

Absolutely! As a volunteer, you’ll receive:

• Exclusive AWG 2026 volunteer gear (jackets, t-shirt, hat)
• Volunteer Pin
• Access to volunteer appreciation events and (possibly) free transit during Games Week! 
• Being part of one of the biggest events in the North!

Plus, you’ll gain amazing experience and meet people from across the Arctic and beyond.

All Games time volunteers registered for at least 12 hours of volunteer time receive a uniform at no cost.

No meals are provided, but light snacks will be available in the volunteer lounges at venues.